three days in this meeting tomorrow, a way to actually pass something to avert the fiscal cliff, then it is very likely, almost definite, that we will go over the cliff. i have to tell you that sources in both parties think that's the likelihood at this point anyway, but this meeting tomorrow is absolutely going to be crucial. and what the senate republican leader mitch mcconnell who you just heard from there, what he's saying he hopes to get from the president is a more details explanation of what he has been saying publicly, which is that he thinks he just wants the senate to pass the stop gap measure to keep tax cuts where they are for 98% of americans, which he campaigned on over and over again in the last election, in the hopes that enough republicans will come onboard and then this could possibly get through the house. >> jessica, is there cause then for optimism or is this meeting really just for show? >> well, as dana pointed out, at this meeting, they could work out the details of this scaled down proposal, which could be a final agreement. for example, republicans have been